Folding card novelty



p 1939- A. w. BARBELLE 2,171,533

FOLDING CARD NOVELTY Filed April 6, 1958 OBAcco) k TOBACCO 2N O: 52 Q. om H5 \10- m o gum Z!- q: 3 6 DQ i F-J 00 u. .35 SE INVENTOR Patented Sept. 5, 1939 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFiCE 6 Claims.

This invention relates to novelties and more particularly to a new and entertaining form of greeting card.

The invention has particular application to greeting cards of the type mailed in acknowledgment of holidays, birthdays and anniversaries, although the invention may be applied equally well in the preparation of novel and amusing advertising matter and the like.

The objects of the present invention are to provide a novel greeting card; to provide a legend, picture or other inscription containing a coded word, message or picture which is revealed when the paper or sheet containing the inscription is properly folded.

These and other objects will become more readily apparent from the following description in conjunction with the appended drawing in which:

Fig. l is an elevational view showing the improved greeting card in the open or unfolded position;

Fig. 2 is an elevational view of the same card when folded so as to reveal the coded word or message;

Fig. 3 is an elevational View of. an inscription, incorporating the invention, such as may be employed in connection with advertising purposes; and

Fig. 4 is an elevational view of the inscription shown in Fig. 3 in the folded position.

As shown in Figs. 1 and 2 the invention comprises a mounting strip or card H having a superimposed sheet [2 secured thereto as by mucilage or other adhesive preferably applied between the sheets I I and [2 along the bottom as indicated by dotted lines in Fig. 1. The sheet I2 is provided with a picture, message, design, or other inscription containing a secret or unrevealed inscription not apparent to the reader until the card or paper is properly folded. The complete inscription l3 disclosed in Fig. 1 comprises preferably a picture or design having a pair of spaced parallel lines l4 and I5 indicated thereon. The portion of the design or picture above the line [4 and the portion below the line l5 when placed in adjoining relationship complete a second inscription, design or message not apparent to the observer of the complete design shown in Fig. 1. The form of the invention shown in Fig. 1 comprises a Valentine greeting card, comprising a picture and an adjoining message, poem or other expression of sentiment IS. The mounting strip ll bears a key ll, preferably behind the upper sheet I 2, which instructs the reader to fold the upper sheet downwardly along the line [5 and upwardly along the line I4 so that a new inscription, previously unrevealed in the complete design, is thereby formed. When the observer or reader follows the indi- 5 cated instructions, the new design or inscription is revealed as shown in Fig. 2.

A modified form of the invention, wherein only a single sheet I2 is employed, is disclosed in Figs. 3 and 4. As shown in Fig. 3 the complete 10 design I3 may by way of illustration, suggest a crop of growing tobacco or other plants, with a coded message or inscription l6 beneath the same. In the present instance the inscription I6 is made to represent unintelligible writing, 15 suggesting a foreign language, code symbols, or hieroglyphics. Instructions to the recipient or observer, similar to the instructions I! shown in Fig. 2, are inscribed on the back of the single paper l2. The sheet contains parallel hori- 20 zontal lines 14' and I5 which, when the paper is folded according to directions, forms the secondary image or inscription shown in Fig. 4.

Obviously the invention may be adapted to a wide range of uses for example novelties, adver- 25 tising matter, cartoons and the like. Instead of forming a printed message when the picture is folded, a second complete picture or design may be formed.

The invention may be modified without de- 30 tracting from the scope of the invention or sacrificing its advantages.

I claim:

1. As an article of manufacture, a sheet of material having formed on but a single side 35 thereof a complete pictorial representation or inscription, the extreme portions of which, when brought into adjacent relation to mask out all but said extreme portions of said representation, form a second otherwise unrevealed inscription. 40

2. As an article of manufacture, a sheet of material having formed on but a single side thereof a single and complete pictorial representation, the extreme top and bottom portions of said representation incorporating unintelli- 45 gible portions of a message, said message becoming apparent when said portions are brought into adjacent relation; and marks formed on said sheet indicating two lines along which said sheet may be folded to bring said portions into adjoin- 50 ing relation.

3. A greeting card comprising a mounting strip; a superimposed sheet secured to said mounting strip adjacent to the bottom edge of said sheet, said sheet being provided with a single 5 mounting strip, said sheet being provided with a complete pictorial representation, the top and bottom portions of which form a second independent and otherwise unrevealed representation when placed in adjoining position.

5. Greeting card as claimed in claim 3 wherein said marks designate spaced parallel lines.

6. Greeting card as claimed in claim 3 wherein said mounting strip is provided with a key of instructions for folding said sheet.

ALBERT W. BARBELLE. 

